UEFA is increasing pressure on Gianni Infantino and has sent an urgent letter to FIFA demanding answers to 42 detailed questions about his presidency.
The letter, which was seen by Sky Sports Newswas written on Monday by UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis and sent to his FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafstrom.
Sky Sports News has also obtained a copy of the full list of 42 questions covering 12 topics, including 10 alleged conflicts of interest, on eight pages.
Theodoridis is giving FIFA two weeks to respond to UEFA’s long list of concerns raised by European football leaders at the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich last Thursday.
He begins by noting that Infantino admitted during the meeting that mistakes had been made, but the explanations provided “do not satisfactorily begin to address a number of fundamental questions.”
UEFA has also requested an immediate audio recording of the match in another sign it is demanding full transparency from FIFA.
“These questions demand answers now,” Theodoridis writes. “They cannot be postponed until the next meeting of the FIFA Council – nor can future governance reforms replace scrutiny of decisions already made and accountability for them.”
The 42 questions are divided into 12 sections:
1. FIFA Forward Enterprise – the proposal for the sale of the World Cup. Why did Infantino negotiate to sell a stake in FIFA tournaments in secret?
“Can FIFA explain why an agreement granting exclusivity to Thrive Capital was signed without prior consultation with the FIFA Council? Who authorized FIFA to enter into this agreement and on what basis?”
“Why was the FIFA Council not consulted before the franchise was granted, regardless of any approval that might have been anticipated at a later stage?
“Can FIFA also confirm who the Governing Board Bureau members were at the time of the decision and how each of them voted, specifying who voted for, who voted against and who abstained?”
“When was the FFE proposal and supporting documentation intended to be submitted to the FIFA Council?”
2. Will the investigation into FIFA governance be independent and why is FIFA blocking the release of documents?
“How does FIFA intend to determine what actually happened in relation to the FFE, the Balogun case and other issues raised by Council members, and ensure proper accountability for any deficiencies identified?”
3. Review of funding of FIFA member associations. On what basis did FIFA propose to sell a stake in the World Cup at a valuation of $20 billion when this summer’s tournament generated $15 billion in revenue?
“Please explain the investment and exit assumptions underlying Thrive Capital’s proposed participation.”
4. Development financing and use of FIFA financial resources. Why would the member associations receive development funds to accept the sale proposal when FIFA already has $6 billion in cash reserves?
“The FIFA President has repeatedly stated that FIFA’s money belongs to its MAs. Why, then, was funding for MAs significantly introduced in relation to the FFE and external investment, instead of being funded directly from FIFA’s own resources?
“What exactly were the MAs asked to approve as part of the FFE proposal to access these additional funds? Following the withdrawal of the FFE, FIFA has now proposed increasing funding to $25 million for the MA using its own reserves. Why was such an approach not considered before the FFE was proposed?”
5. Remuneration and financial transparency. Why did Infantino receive a £1.3m payout in 2024 on top of his £4m FIFA salary?
“Recent media reports, referring to files from FIFA’s US World Cup organizing entity (FWC2026 US), indicate that the FIFA president received a significant additional remuneration, which was not disclosed in FIFA’s annual report.
“Can FIFA clarify the nature, amount and basis of these payments, why they have not been disclosed in FIFA’s annual report and whether they have been reviewed and approved by FIFA’s competent bodies?”
“Can FIFA also confirm whether the additional remuneration has been treated as taxable income and whether the relevant income tax has been paid?”
6. Review of disciplinary procedures and the Balogun case. Why was Balogun allowed to play when he was suspended?
“President Trump publicly admitted that he called the FIFA president to request a review of the Balogun disciplinary case. What exactly did he ask him to do and what was his response? Would the case have been reviewed without his intervention?
“Following that conversation, did the FIFA president or FIFA secretary general communicate with anyone within FIFA, including members of the administration or the chair of the disciplinary committee, regarding the Balogun matter? If so, could FIFA specify with whom, when and the nature of those communications?”
7. Compliance with Game Laws. Why was there a 27-minute show of the last half of the World Cup?
“The half-time interval during the World Cup final lasted 27 minutes, without any prior request to the IFAB and consultation with the FIFA Council.
“Similarly, the introduction of so-called mandatory hydration breaks at all World Cup matches, deviating from the existing rule, has not, to our knowledge, been preceded by consultation with or request for authorization from the IFAB.”
8. Electoral integrity and independence of FIFA judicial bodies. UEFA doubts whether the FIFA presidential elections will be fair.
“The official election campaign period began on April 30, 2026, the date of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver. Which body, other than the FIFA Election Committee, is responsible for overseeing the election process, and what procedures and safeguards are in place to prevent the misuse of FIFA resources and to ensure fair and impartial presidential elections?”
“We have concerns about the independence and impartiality of the chairman of the FIFA Electoral Committee, Mr. Chiomento, given the committee’s crucial role in overseeing the presidential election.”
9. Presidential spending and financial oversight. Infantino’s private jet provided by Qatar Airways.
“Numerous media reports in recent years have raised questions about the FIFA president’s use of private jets and his accommodation costs, particularly in Qatar and the United States.
“Can FIFA provide a detailed account of the relevant expenditure, including amounts, purposes, authorization procedures and compliance with applicable FIFA financial and travel policies?”
10. World Cup hosting and allocation of privileges.
“We request access to the full list of guests seated in the VIP and VVIP sections during the World Cup final, including their names, positions and reasons for their invitations.
“Could FIFA also explain the criteria and decision-making process governing the allocation of these seats, especially in circumstances where multiple guests were apparently given priority over NC presidents and confederation general secretaries?”
11. President Trump’s FIFA Peace Prize
“Absent any prior involvement of the FIFA Council, who decided to establish the FIFA Peace Prize, for what purpose, and who decided that the President of the United States should receive it?
“What role did the FIFA president personally play in the creation of the award and the selection of its recipient? Were any independent selection procedures or objective criteria established and applied? If so, could FIFA provide the relevant documentation?”
12. Conflicts of interest
A series of decisions, transactions and interventions involving the president of FIFA, the President of the United States and individuals associated with them raise serious questions about potential conflicts of interest, transparency and institutional accountability.
They were:
- The FIFA Peace Prize, which was not submitted to the FIFA Council for approval.
- The reported seven-year, approximately $4 million lease of office space in Trump Tower, New York, which includes Eric Trump, for premises that are said to be unused for most of the year.
- The proposed agreement with Thrive Capital, led by Mr. Joshua Kushner, a member of the US president’s family.
- The US president’s phone call with the FIFA president asking for intervention in the Balogun disciplinary case.
- Reported advanced discussions involving the US president and individuals associated with him regarding a FIFA cryptocurrency.
- The World Cup sponsorship deal with Kalshi, a company said to be advised and partly owned by Donald Trump Jr., including reports that Kalshi received extensive advertising exposure without financial consideration for FIFA.
- The last-minute move of the World Cup draw, reportedly at significant additional cost to FIFA, to the JFK/Donald Trump Center in Washington, DC, instead of Las Vegas.
- The inclusion of the American president’s daughter and grandson in the Club World Cup draw.
- Announcing a $75 million investment in Palestine during the US president’s Peace Council meeting, apparently without prior information or approval from FIFA’s Finance Committee or Council.
- Public statements from White House officials, including Andrew Giuliani and the US president himself, defending the FIFA president, supporting his continued presidency and criticizing those who question his leadership.
UEFA has so far failed to put forward a candidate before the November 18 deadline to challenge Infantino in next March’s presidential election.
Arsene Wenger would be a popular choice to take on Infantino, but FIFA’s head of global football development has made no comment on a potential challenge.
FIFA has been contacted for comment.
